Career Testing Washington DC

Career testing is a big industry, and many a career advisor DC relies heavily on such testing to guide clients as they explore possible career paths. Career tests come in many shapes and sizes. Perhaps the most widely used one is Myers !riggs. "n a previous post, " expressed signi#icant reservations about Myers !riggs$ value as a guide #or people loo%ing to switch careers Myers !riggs sorts people into one o# sixteen categories, and then provides a list o# suggested careers #or people in each o# the categories. !ac% when " too% the test " was given a list o# eighty &'( career possibilities.

Career Coach )im Weinstein

* list o# career options by career coach DC can provide valuable stimulus, allowing clients to expand their vistas, and i# a career test is used in that way " #ully endorse it. +n#ortunately, too many clients investigating career options &and too many career consultants who administer these tests( loo% to them #or concrete answers rather than #or possible paths to explore. *ll o# the companies, organizations, and websites o##ering career testing tout the value o# their tests, but in #act, there is virtually no research that examines the trac% record o# career testing as an arti#act able to predict career satis#action and , or success.

-o, i# career testing isn$t terribly accurate as a predictor, why is it so universally popular. " thin% the answer is a #airly simple one/ choosing a new career is a monumental, li#e altering decision, and a highly complex one. "t$s also one that is best underta%en over time through a process o# sel# re#lection, conversations with people who %now the person who is see%ing to select a career path or ma%e a change, research, networ%ing, etc. * career test provides a 0uic%, relatively de#initive set o# answers a seeming shortcut. !ut i# the shortcut is to a destination that isn$t write it$s not a terribly valuable shortcut.

Career *dvisor
1utgers +niversity Career -ervices expresses my philosophy well as it applies to people 2ust beginning their career path/ 34our results are not li%ely to provide a #inal academic or career choice, but may help you discover more about the values you thin% are important. This in#ormation could be shared with your advisors, parents, pro#essors, and,or career advisor DC to help brainstorm potential college ma2ors and career options3.

*s #or mid career individuals contemplating a change, testing can help #rame a person$s s%ills, values, and interests in ways that shed new light on them. "t is, however, unli%ely that testing will uncover a career related dimension o# personality or experience that will come as a discovery or surprise. " couldn$t help but chuc%le when " read one o# three testimonials listed on what is purported to be the most popular #ree career test, o##ered on 5ivecareer.com, which claims to have administered #ive million tests. 6ere it is/

35iveCareer made me reconsider my #uture plans and gave me a deeper vocational insight. "t made me move in a slightly di##erent direction educationally than " originally planned to.3 -am

5ess than a ringing endorsement, "$d say. 7ortunately there are many #ree tests that can be #ound on line that will ade0uately serve the purpose o# suggesting possibilities. 8ne o# the best is the 9"* -ignature -trengths test, #eatured on #amous psychologist Dr. Martin -eligman$s website/

" encourage a number o# clients to ta%e this test, as it provides #odder and stimulation #or the %inds o# in depth conversations that are more li%ely to shed light on viable career possibilities than is testing alone. "n my experience, it is in those conversation that little anecdotes emerge that point the way to #ruit#ul career choices.

Than% 4ou )im Weinstein DC5i#eCounseling.com